KB News Desk
EcoPro BM has begun upgrading its cathode production lines at its facility in Debrecen, Hungary, to produce high-nickel cathodes for a German luxury electric vehicle maker, signaling an aggressive push into Europe’s battery supply chain.
During an investor conference held in Seoul on Friday, the company announced a 40 billion won ($29 million) investment to convert its nickel-cobalt-aluminum line into a hybrid NCA-nickel-cobalt-manganese line. This will allow the plant to supply NCM cathodes to the German automaker starting in the fourth quarter of next year.
The Debrecen facility began commercial operations earlier this year. When all three lines are fully operational, it will boast an annual capacity of 54,000 tons — enough to power approximately 600,000 EVs.
With Line 1 operating since June and Line 2 launching in September, the plant is targeting 10,000 tons of output this year before ramping up to 30,000 tons next year. EcoPro BM said its Hungarian subsidiary is nearing a turnaround to profitability as European orders accelerate.
The Debrecen complex also functions as an integrated production hub alongside key EcoPro affiliates. Within the site, EcoPro Innovation produces 8,000 tons of lithium hydroxide per year, while EcoPro AP supplies 16,000 cubic meters of industrial gases per hour.
EcoPro BM’s European supply centers on ultra-high-nickel cathode chemistries with nickel content exceeding 90 percent. The company will secure cost competitiveness through its BNSI nickel smelter in Indonesia, mitigating cost volatility for nickel — which accounts for half of total cathode production expenses.
Over the long term, the company said the production volume at the Hungarian plant is set to expand as automakers align with European regional sourcing mandates and local-content rules under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
EcoPro BM CEO Kim Jang-woo said, “Leveraging our stable, integrated supply chain, we will deepen our partnerships with European automakers and accelerate overall profitability.”
Following the announcement, EcoPro BM surged as much as 9.94 percent to 116,400 won on Korea’s tech-heavy Kosdaq. Shares of its parent company, EcoPro, also jumped up to 6.61 percent to hit 88,900 won compared to the previous trading day.
